LAVA-LETTER THE VIEW FROM JULIE S DESK SATURATION SUNDAY LAVALETTE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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1 LAVALETTE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH LAVA-LETTER Each Week at LUMC Sundays 9:45 am Fellowship Time 10 am Sunday School 11 am Worship TBA Bike Group meets at the Smith s house (weather permitting) 5:30 Chime Practice Tuesdays 5:30 pm AA Meeting FISH FRY! Friday, March 17th 5-7pm Adults $10 Children $5 Nancy will have a signup sheet for desserts. Please let her know if you can help with that. Tentative Date for Second Fish Fry Friday, March 31st THE VIEW FROM JULIE S DESK We know Lent is the forty days of preparation for Easter. We know Lent is designed to bring us to Easter on our knees. We know its symbols are ashes and crosses and basins and towels. I know there are times when I just want to skip it, because it is a time of self-examination and repentance. I know about Lent, sort of. What I have come to realize is that Lent is not just a calendar item; it is a spiritual encounter. Lent comes in life. It comes in times of doubt and indecision, times of tragedy and pain, times of painful crossroads and lonely nights of the soul. If we live, think, feel and care, Lent comes. Lent has its Upper Rooms, its Gethsemanes, its crosses, its tombs, its darkness, its silences. It has its cries of agony, its feelings of being forsaken, and its deaths. Lent is a real experience to us all, and is a part of the experience of being one of God s children. What is the good news of Lent? The good news is that we are not forsaken. The good news is that Jesus walked where we are walking. The good news is that he senses, comprehends, understands, cares and identifies with the deepest and darkest experiences of our Lents. He chose this path to reveal, to love, to redeem, to share, to save. How else could he be our savior, our Lord? So on Wednesday of this past week, we met with others, we were marked, and we remembered that God is with us in all the Lents of our lives, whether they come in spring, summer, autumn, or winter. Because God really did love human beings so much that he became one. Let us give Lenten thanks. Grace and joy, Pastor Julie SATURATION SUNDAY - Pastor Julie MARCH 2017 Rev. Jim Behrer, Treasurer of our WV Conference UMC, will be our guest preacher on Sunday, March 19 at 11 a.m. The Bishop, the Cabinet and other conference officers will be preaching at all our Western District churches, with workshops offered after lunch to make sure we are aware of our duties in administrative committees, to update our Safe Sanctuary accreditations, and to offer programming ideas and encouragement. It is expected that all laity serving on committees will participate. (Please see attachment.)

2 Page 2 LENTEN SCHEDULE FOR OUR CABWAY PARISH: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper - February 28th at Florence Memorial UMC, 6pm Ash Wednesday Service - March 2nd at Lavalette UMC, 7pm Maundy Thursday Service - April 13th at Mt. Union UMC, 6pm, with potluck and Holy Communion Good Friday Service - April 14th at Beech Fork Lake Marina shelter, 12 noon, Bob Mayes presiding Easter Sunrise Service - April 16th at Beech Fork Lake Marina shelter, TBA, Carl Beatty presiding MARCH BIRTHDAYS 2 Lacy McSweeney 2 Sue Ann McSweeney 3 Heather Curtis 5 Bev Burgess 6 Anna Cassidy 7 Sara Jane Bailey 10 Skylar Brumfield 11 Kara Maynard 13 Kristin Ferrell 13 Kati Bailey Holland 14 Miranda Napier 16 Marian Tissenbaum 18 Bobbi Mitts 21 Liza Fraley 22 Jacob Hunter 23 Randall Watts 23 Marjorie Mitts 26 Matthew Bailey 26 Paul Mitts 30 David Curry 31 Mary Brubeck SUNDAY SCHOOL PERFECT ATTENDANCE - FEBRUARY Alan Blakely Gail Brumfield Joe Chapman Charles Ellis Dinah Fraley Sara Marcum Sue Ann McSweeney Kayla McSweeney Lacy McSweeney Hugh Roberts Linda Roberts Kathy Sanders Monica Smith Steve Smith Emma Webb Kevin Webb Nancy Webb Nicholas Webb

3 Page 3 WORSHIP ASSISTANTS SCHEDULE March 5th: Front Door Greeters: Betty Napier & Alice Roberts Office Door Greeters: Alan Blakely & Peggy Davis Acolytes: Levi Cassidy & Nicholas Webb Nursery Worker: Sammi Jo Stapleton Children s Time: Kinsey Booth Liturgist: Kevin McCann Communion Servers: Chad & Kristin Ferrell, Billie Smith March 12th: Front Door Greeters: Greg & Toni Adkins Office Door Greeters: George Bias & Chad Ferrell Acolytes: Lacy McSweeney & Zoe Mitts Nursery Worker: Sara Stapleton Children s Time: Kristin Ferrell Liturgist: Missi Blatt Ushers: Charlie Ellis, Kent Queen, & Ty Queen Sound Assistant: John Dempsey Homebound Communion: Gayle Curry & Dinah Fraley Ushers: Alan Blakely, Jim Day, & Steve Smith Sound Assistant: Joe Chapman March 19th: Front Door Greeters: Dinah Fraley & Marian Tissenbaum Office Door Greeters: Jim & Cindy Day Acolytes: Levi Cassidy & Nicholas Webb Nursery Worker: Sue Ann McSweeney Children s Time: Sara Stapleton Liturgist: Kristin Ferrell Ushers: Brody Brumfield, Joe Brumfield, & Kaden March 26th: Front Door Greeters: David & Phawn Cusick Office Door Greeters: Alan Blakely & Billie Smith Acolytes: Lacy McSweeney & Zoe Mitts Nursery Worker: Skylar Brumfield Children s Time: Kevin McCann Liturgist: Bev Burgess Ushers: Chad Ferrell, Randall Watts, & Tyler Watts Sound Assistant: John Dempsey Brumfield Sound Assistant: Joe Chapman CONDOLENCES - Sara Marcum February was a tough month for our church family. We lost two of our flock. Mrs. Carrie Opal Fisher, widow of Grandville Fisher, passed away on Friday, February 17th. At 106, she was our oldest member, having joined our congregation on October 10, 1942 while Rev. L. M. Barnett was pastor. The very next day, we lost Mr. Thomas Martin Leete, age 65, who had attended this church while living in this area off and on since his birth. His parents, Thomas J. & Jeanne Leete, were received into this congregation on April 17, 1960 by Rev. Clyde Sindy. They will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved them. Our loss is Heaven s gain.

4 Page 4 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Wednesday, Mar. 1 7:00 Ash Wednesday Service, LUMC Sunday, Mar. 5 12:15 Homebound Communion Ministry 5:30 Chime Choir Practice Monday, Mar. 6 6:30 Bible Study, Wesley Classroom Tuesday, Mar. 7 5:30 Alcoholics Anonymous Saturday, Mar. 11 Daylight Savings Time begins tonight. Don t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed. Sunday, Mar. 12 4:00 UMW, Parlor 5:30 Chime Choir Practice Tuesday, Mar. 14 5:30 Alcoholics Anonymous, Fellowship Hall 7:00 Administrative Council, Wesley Classroom Wednesday, Mar ? Food Pantry Prep 6-8 Trustees Work Night Thursday, Mar Noon Food Pantry Friday, Mar Noon Food Pantry 5-7 Fish Fry #1 (desserts needed) Sunday, Mar. 19 5:30 Chime Choir Practice Tuesday, Mar. 21 5:30 Alcoholics Anonymous, Fellowship Hall Sunday, Mar. 26 Last day to place order for Easter flowers 4:00 Sunday Funday 5:30 Chime Choir Practice Tuesday, Mar. 28 5:30 Alcoholics Anonymous, Fellowship Hall Friday, Mar. 31 7: Trustees, Wesley Classroom Tentative Fish Fry #2 (desserts needed) May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us. - Psalm 90: 17 (NIV) Upcoming Events See parish calendar on page two of this newsletter for Holy Week services. Sunday, Apr. 9 11:00 Easter Cantata Saturday, Apr. 15 TBA Egg Hunt Sunday, Apr :00 Easter Worship Service DO YOU HAVE NEWS? - Sara Marcum If you have news that you would like put in the Lava-Letter, please it to the church at lumc1@frontier.com or let me know sometime before the end of the month. Our goal is to have the newsletter ready to print before the first Sunday of each month. I m sure our church groups and committees have interesting things going on that might be of interest to others in our congregation. Let us know what you are doing to make Lavalette UMC shine!

5 Page 5 PRAYER LIST Norman A. Keith B. David B. Michelle D. George B. Brandon E. Family of Opal F. Alicia F. Liza F. Ann G. Jim & Martha H. Johnny J. Family of Tom L. Debra M. Rev. Carol Bob & Marge M. Lyle P. Daniel R. Stacy S. Loretta S. Rodney W. Seth Mrs. Stickler Phawn s mother Parents of Cindy D. Chad s uncle Chad s cousin, Kenny Allen s co-worker, Bryan P. Loretta s niece, Vicky Helen s sister-in-law, Clarice Helen s brother, Harold C. Marian s friend, Lindsay Chad s mother Rev. Tom Nolan Dan Russell s great-granddaughter Pastor Julie s Aunt Bonnie & Uncle Creed Lavalette UMC Our shut-ins; the homeless; our military; those traveling; our world; Our community; our nation; Food Pantry Families; those grieving loved ones; those who don t know Christ; those struggling with addiction; and unspoken requests. Please continue to pray for flood victims, mission workers, & volunteers in West Virginia and surrounding areas. THANK YOU! Your support of the community food pantry has been incredible! Your donations of food, the time given to help stock shelves and prepare food packages, and the monetary gifts given as well as your prayers helped us to serve about 129 families last month. The Food Pantry dates for this month are Thursday, March 16th and Friday, March 17th from 9 - Noon. We will get items ready on Wednesday, March 15th from 9 until we are finished. If you have a few hours to help out on any of the food pantry days, we d love to have you. We have a lot of good fellowship while we re working. Join us!

6 LAVALETTE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PO Box Route 152 Lavalette, WV Phone: Open Hearts. Open Doors. Open Minds. OUR GIVING Thank you for your tithes and offerings which support the mission and ministries of our congregation, our Annual Conference and our mission to the world. Below is a snapshot of our giving for the month of February. As of March 1, 2017 the Family Life Center loan balance is $ 273, Our monthly payment for the loan is $ 2, Any gift that you can give toward the remaining balance of our loan and to our weekly ministries would be greatly appreciated. The more gifts we receive, the more ministries we can offer and quicker the loan can be repaid. Thank you for your generous gifts to God and the ministries and missions of the church! We re on the web: lavaletteumc.com Our Gifts for the Month of February: General Budget Offerings received $ 8, Sunday School Building Fund (Trustees) Family Life Center 2, Food Pantry Apportionment Missionary 0 Total $ 12, Amount needed each month to do ministry through our budget - $11, Amount needed each month for FLC loan payment - $ 2, Amount needed each month to support ministries through our apportionment - $ 2, On Facebook at: Lavalette United Methodist CHOIR NEWS - Jacob Smith Many thanks to all who donated food, helped to prepare food, purchased a meal, or made any other contribution for the choir fundraiser dinner on Sunday, February 12th. It was a tremendous success. Thanks! Donations will be used to build storage in the choir room and for other choir uses.